Sweet’s syndrome (SS) is an acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis, characterised by the appearance of skin lesions and fever,
seldom seen in children.1,2 Three reports of SS associated with aortitis in children have been published. Takayasu’s arteritis (TA), a vasculitis affecting
the aorta and its branches, is quite rare in childhood. Aortic lesions are characterised by stenosis, although aneurysms may
be found.3,4 This paper reports the case of a child presenting those two associated diseases, evolving with aortic aneurysm and congestive
heart failure (CHF).

At admission, her general status was regular, she was pale, weighed 9.9 kg (2.5–10th centile), her length was 83 cm (25–50th
centile), and she had heart rate of 160 beats/min and respiratory rate of 40/min. Blood pressure was 100/40 mm Hg in the right
arm, 130/70 mm Hg in the left arm, 120/68 mm Hg in the right leg, and 98/40 mm Hg in the left leg. Peripheral pulses were
wide and symmetric. Cardiac examination disclosed a diastolic murmur at the left sternal margin. Laboratory tests showed haemoglobin
91 mg/l, leucocytes 14×109/l, erythrocyte sedimentation rate 57 mm/1st h, and a negative Mantoux test. Echocardiography showed severe aortic insufficiency
(AoI) and marked dilatation of the aorta. Angioresonance showed dilatation of the ascending aorta (30 mm), aortic arch (27
mm), and descending aorta (15 mm); dilatation and stenosis in the brachiocephalic branch, common carotid, and left subclavian
arteries (fig 1); and the abdominal aorta and iliac caliber were decreased, with wall irregularities.

During hospitalisation, the patient presented a decrease of left upper limb pulses and ischaemia of left hand fingers. The
diagnosis of TA and SS was made. Treatment was started with intravenous gammaglobulin (2 g/kg/monthly) and intravenous pulse
methylprednisolone (30 mg/kg) for 3 days, monthly, followed by oral prednisone (2 mg/kg/day), progressively decreased to 10
mg/day.

Seven months later, the patient was clinically stable, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate was 24 mm/1st h, and angioresonance
showed unaltered findings in the thorax, with normalisation of abdominal aorta.

DISCUSSION

Sweet’s syndrome is an acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis, seldom seen in infancy, characterised by fever and appearance
of erythematous painful nodules, plaques, and/or papules distributed over the face, trunk, and limbs. It may be associated
with systemic manifestations, such as cardiovascular system abnormalities, pulmonary and renal failure. Such a syndrome has
been connected with a number of rheumatic diseases, such as dermatomyositis, Sjögren’s syndrome, Behçet’s disease, and TA.
Its cause and pathogenesis are still unknown. Autoimmune and infectious factors seem to be involved.1,2

Arthralgia and/or arthritis are seen in about 33% of adult patients. Tuerlinckx et al described the case of SS in a 4 month old boy, which evolved with monarthritis of the right knee, improving after the use
of systemic and intra-articular corticosteroids.5 This is the second case to present such clinical manifestations in a child.

This case presented SS associated with TA with severe involvement of the aorta and its branches. Three cases reports of aortitis
associated with SS in children have been published.6,7 In all of them, skin lesions evolved to scars, characterising lax dermis. Vascular symptoms and signs may be insidious for
long periods. Muster et al described the case of a 16 month old baby girl diagnosed as having SS with pulmonary involvement, who improved after receiving
systemic corticotherapy. After 14 months of treatment, the patient presented ascending aorta aneurysm, AoI, and coronary stenosis,
and finally died.7 The anatomopathological study showed similar histological findings in skin lesions and lesions in the aorta, leading us to
question whether aortitis is part of SS. Other authors believe that vascular abnormalities found in such patients fulfil the
criteria of TA.

TA is a chronic inflammatory disease, affecting the aorta and its branches. In Japan, 20% of cases were found in patients
aged less than 19 and just 2% in children aged less than 10 years. The American College of Rheumatology classification criteria
are applicable to the paediatric group. CHF is connected with arterial hypertension, myocarditis, pericarditis, pulmonary
hypertension, and AoI. Aortic insufficiency affects 7–55% of patients with TA, being more prevalent among patients with aneurysms.8,9,10 The patient described presented CHF, probably secondary to arterial hypertension and AoI.

Another major problem presented by this patient was the presence of aneurysms in several aortic segments and branches. In
childhood, vasculitis is an important cause of aneurysms, mainly Kawasaki disease and TA. Aneurysms have been reported in
2–33% of patients with TA, normally associated with stenosis. Aneurysms and AoI are considered to provide the worst prognosis
for TA evolution.9,10

The reported case presents the association of two rare diseases in an infant, with manifestations seldom seen, such as lax
skin, arthritis, aneurysms, and aortic insufficiency.